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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) today released the following statement upon the U.S. House of Representatives passing late last night the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act (H.R. 3).

“I am proud to join my colleagues in voting to rescind nearly $15 billion in unused funding for projects that are no longer necessary or duplicative in nature,” said Rep. Scott. “These budget rescissions build upon our promise to cut wasteful spending and ensure we are good stewards of the taxpayer dollars of hard working Americans. I thank President Trump for his leadership in submitting this rescission package, and I look forward to these funds being returned to the Treasury and re-appropriated where they have the greatest impact.”

Pursuant to the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA), last month President Trump requested rescissions of nearly $15 billion of unobligated balances from previously appropriated funding. The package includes 34 rescissions totaling $14.835 billion and affects programs at the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, and the Treasury, as well as the Railroad Retirement Board.

H.R. 3 is the largest rescission in the history of the ICA and rescinds funding previously provided in law and reductions to budget authority for mandatory programs. Funding proposed to be rescinded has in many cases been left unspent by agencies for years.